SPECIAL SECTION
SPECIAL SECTION 53
Brown is the New Green EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ECUA’S BIOSOLIDS COMPOSTING FACILITY AND HOW IT IS TRANSFORMING UNWANTED WASTE INTO CERTIFIED, BUYABLE BIO-COMPOST CALLED “BLOOM.”
· OTHER STORIES ·
50
57
63
Taking Care of Business
Primary Questions
Around the Region
EAGER TO HAVE EXPERIENCE BEFORE EVEN GRADUATING, UWF STUDENTS ARE INTEGRATING CLASSROOM THEORIES WITH REALWORLD CHALLENGES IN AN EXCITING NEW UWF BUSINESS PROGRAM.
WE SIT DOWN WITH MOST OF THE DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES AND ASK THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR MILITARY, THE BUDGET, CONGRESS, THE IRS AND MORE.
FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND CULTURAL NEWS IN THE GREATER PENSACOLA AREA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.
nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 49
Education
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS STUDENTS FROM UWF ARE TAKING THE CLASSROOM TO THE BOARDROOM, RECOMMENDING STRATEGY AND PRESENTING MARKETING PLANS TO BUSINESSES LOOKING FOR HELP. BY JOSH NEWBY If every interaction in life is a learning opportunity, then students at the University of West Florida College of Business are getting a head start on real-world management and
“
marketing techniques by interfacing with local businesses in desperate need of their help. It’s called live case studies, and it takes students away from boring textbook anecdotes about problems far-away businesses have faced and places them in the boardrooms of local companies looking to solve problems. As workplace expectations change and the workforce is increasingly competitive, employers are looking to hire even entry-level applicants who already have some experience. When profit margins are tight and time means money, it is imperative that business students and fresh hires can hit the ground running. Enter the incorporation of real-world experience with classroom duties and credits. While capstone projects and internships
generally look to improve soft skills and provide directed integration of textbook theories with the real world, research has shown that live case studies can actually teach hard skills, such as executive strategy, as well as more interpersonal attributes like communication. This is particularly true with those who do not have a lot of experience in the workplace, such as college students. These live case study exercises do not replace an internship, however. In fact, the current body of research shows that,when used in tandem, or when immediately following an internship experience, the live case study process can further improve applied project learning outcomes beyond those of either experience alone. Locally, it all started when student team
THEY LEARN HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH INCOMPLETE INFORMATION, DEAL WITH PEOPLE’S PERSONALITIES, AND BE KIND BUT CONFIDENT.”
50 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com
consulting projects were instituted in two MBA classes when Tim O’Keefe was director the program. The experience resulted in increased application of learning as part of the curriculum and often to published peer-reviewed cases that can be used as learning tools by any program worldwide. “When I became dean, my goal was to push those experiences down into the undergraduate program,” said O’Keefe. “At first, a few faculty members signed on for the experiment. This past year we had over 25 percent of our full-time faculty incorporating these type of experiential learning opportunities into their classes resulting in over 50 engagements involving more than 250 students. Several students have had three or more of these experiences during their undergraduate studies here and report added confidence in the interview process because they can describe to recruiters specific ways they have applied their learning to actual business problems.” In fact, students of everything from marketing and social media to management are taking part in the program, which is just about a year old. They have worked with places like Scenic Hills Country Club, Boneheads, ISS Global, McMahon & Hadder and AccountingFly. “We work with the Florida Small Business
Development Center to vet the company, then place students in charge of gathering pertinent information,” said Sherry Hartnett, professor of internet marketing and social media marketing classes. “We put together what we want the students to learn and analyze, and then they make recommendations to tie in with what we’re teaching.” Recently, Hartnett led groups of students to look at digital marketing initiatives. The students met with the “clients,” compiled information on marketing and website analytics, then suggested changes. Another group looked at a social media platform and website and suggested campaign ideas to the clients. “Oftentimes, these businesses do not employ marketing professionals; that’s not necessarily their specialty,” said Hartnett. “So when we come in, we’ll notice that a website might have a lot of good content and photos, but the website is not easy to navigate. It might be difficult for users, so students will actually map out a different homepage layout and navigation structure, to make is easier for customers.” Hartnett finds that the skills necessary to learn from the client, synthesize the real-world information with textbook theory, and present a cohesive campaign suggestion are easily translated to real-world business success. “They learn skills like how to deal with ambiguity,” said Hartnett. “They learn how to move forward with incomplete information, deal with people’s personalities, and be kind but confident.” While success of the campaign is often difficult to forecast at the end of the semester, when grades are due, professors grade the students on their application of classroom ideas and how they handled themselves in engaging with the business.
“The business owners may have a unique challenge or simply want a fresh perspective from college students. All people involved gain from the experiences and the Florida SBDC serves as a mediator between the clients and the students,” said Kelly Massey, who teaches for the MBA program. “Students have the chance to be a consultant and log session notes into our client consulting database. Clients are engaged with the university and helping mentor future business owners and leaders.” Students are not the only ones who benefit, of course. Business leaders report great success with the campaigns and are enthusiastic about giving back to the community in this way. “Business owners overall are pleased when being paired with student teams for live case projects,” said Massey. “Many Florida SBDC at UWF clients have commented how impressed they are with the College of Business students and the recommendations they provide. Particularly feedback has been on how the students researched a new avenue of the client’s business, sought additional lower-cost marketing options and offered insight into expansion opportunities.” These positive benefits extend beyond strictly business applications, too. A class on managing front office operations under the hospitality management major have completed front-desk training and developed procedure manuals for local hotels, including the Holiday Inn Resort in Fort Walton Beach and the Hampton Inn & Suites in Navarre. Marketing Essentials students conducted a case study for Okaloosa Gas Company, which included recommendations for service scheduling and delivery, as well as communication. “At the end of each semester project, the student teams give a presentation to the clients,” said Massey. “The student teams provide research, data and best practices to support their recommendations. Business owners can ask them questions and provide constructive criticism at that time. Every semester at least one client says that they would love to hire all of the students from their project, if they had the budget and availability to do so.” Word of the live case study has spread as other businesses in the area are chomping at the bit to take part in this mutually beneficial relationship. For students, the experience is a valuable one that provides a rare chance at executive strategy and networking while pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. For businesses, a fresh pair of eyes and a young approach to an age-old business might just be the sheen they need to boost those ever-important profits.
nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 51
YOUR OFFICE IS NO LONGER THE CENTER OF YOUR BUSINESS. YOU ARE.
IP Centrex is more than a phone system. It’s an advanced, cloud-based platform that seamlessly unifies all your communications from your office lines to your mobile devices without complex equipment. Get more features and more flexibility, all with no up-front hardware costs to your business.
WHAT CAN UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS WITH IP CENTREX DO FOR YOU? MOVE ACTIVE CALLS
between devices so you can go freely about your day
INCREASE YOUR AVAILABILITY with instant messaging and presence capabilities on any device
IMPROVE PROFESSIONALISM with a single business line caller ID
Services not available in all areas. Other restrictions apply. © 2016 Cox Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. 52 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com
CALL (866) 419-6056 OR VISIT COXBUSINESS.COM/IPCENTREX
Environment
Green brown is the new
Everything you need to know on ECUA’s Biosolids Composting Facility and how it is transforming unwanted waste into certified, buyable bio-compost called “bloom.”
Residential yard waste is now a sought-after resource: that’s right, your yard’s leftover leaves and other plant materials collected by the ECUA’s Sanitation Department are being used in combination with biosolids to create a safe, nutrient-dense and environmentally-friendly soil amendment the ECUA is calling “bloom.”
By DAWN GRESKO
In case you aren’t familiar with “biosolids,” they are the byproduct of the biological, chemical and mechanical treatment of wastewater. Since many associate human waste with the term wastewater, a common misconception is that “biosolids” refer to human fecal matter. However, what is closer to truth is that biosolids are bacterial cells grown to treat wastewater. While in the wastewater, these bacteria consume nutrients and organic matter that are beneficial to compost, so when they are separated from the treated water they take all the nutrients with them. The Emerald Coast bloom, a product that is available for residential and commercial use, contains the “big three” nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. While bloom is also rich in essential micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, zinc and sulfate, it maintains very low levels of unwanted heavy metals like cadmium, lead and mercury. To better understand composting, it is a biological process in which macro- and microorganisms decompose organic matter (like dead leaves and plants) into an organic soil-like substance called compost. In fact, for those who were wondering if compost smells as bad as the materials that go into it, you might be happy to
know the finished product has an earthy scent similar to dirt and mulch. There are a range of techniques and technologies involved in the process of composting, ranging from a simple compost pile in your backyard to a large-scale commercial operation. Commercially speaking, there are three common ways to compost: turned windrow, aerated static pile, and in-vessel. Turned windrow is an elongated compost pile, or windrow, which is turned frequently to provide oxygen, distribute moisture and ensure the adequate decomposition of all materials. An aerated static pile is not turned, but air is still forced through the pile, usually with fans or blowers, in order to distribute oxygen throughout the pile. Thirdly, in-vessel compositing involves a large container, or other enclosure, in which the compost is mixed and oxygen is provided. To create the Emerald Coast bloom, the ECUA uses a process called modified static aerobic pile (MSAP), which is a hybrid of turned windrow and aerated static pile techniques. Like the turned windrow, material is placed in a windrow, but what differs in the MSAP process is the placement of an inoculant, containing beneficial bacteria and fungus, which is placed on top of the mixed material. On the surface of the inoculant, a capping layer of ground yard waste is added to serve as a blanket to both insulate the compost and reduce unpleasant odors. As the inoculant grows underneath the nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 53
Environment
capping layer, it pulls oxygen into the windrow much like in an aerated static pile, which allows all material to decompose properly. The pile is turned twice within 45 days, as opposed to the much more frequent turning within the turned windrow technique. This procedure saves money and continues to keep odors at a minimum, since there is no constant turning giving the odors a chance to escape. So, how does yard waste come into the mix? In order to properly compost biosolids, which are high in nitrogen, they must be combined with a material high in carbon. Luckily, yard waste is just the answer: it is an excellent source high in carbon, which the ECUA grinds into mulch before mixing it with the biosolids prior to composting. Biosolids and yard waste are mixed in an approximately 3-to-1 ratio for optimal moisture, porosity, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and temperature. This blend has proven to be ideal for the compost process, as it helps to decompose both materials (yard waste and biosolids) rapidly. By composting biosolids and yard waste, ECUA keeps both out of the landfill—where it benefits no one. “The ECUA is utilizing yard trash and biosolids to create an environmentally beneficial compost,” said Randall Rudd, ECUA deputy executive director. “This eliminates the need to
54 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com
landfill yard trash and biosolids, and provides a valuable compost resource to residents and businesses in the ECUA service area.” By opting for a bio-compost alternative, you’re helping to protect our wildlife and environment, which includes our water supply. By utilizing Emerald Coast bloom for your
Yard Waste:
Residential and commercial plant material collected by ECUA’s Sanitation Department
landscaping and gardening projects, you eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, which in turn protects our waters from contamination by storm-water runoffs that carry these harmful chemicals from residential lawns to nearby bodies of water. Compost provides many benefits for
+ Biocompost:
A nutrient-rich, environmentally beneficial soil amendment
Biosolids:
Domestic sludge derived from ECUA’s Water Reclamation Facilities
making soil better, such as improving nutrient retention capacity, moisture retention and water utilization, as well as improving overall soil structure, balancing and stabilizing pH, providing beneficial micro-organisms, reducing plant diseases, and binding or degrading contaminants. Furthermore, the biosolids compost is a safe alternative to fertilizer because it is free of harmful bacteria and micro-organisms. During the composting process, the biosolids are “cooked” at up to 150 degrees, effectively eliminating bad bacteria and pathogens. Emerald Coast bloom is currently sold to agricultural farms, landscape contractors, nurseries, golf course managers and more. This is because it can be used for a range of commercial purposes, including but not limited to turf establishment, roadside plantings, erosion control, as well as land reclamation, restoration and remediation. Yet, bloom may be used anywhere nutrients and organic matter can be used, including for residential purposes, such as maintaining and planting flower and garden beds, new or established trees and lawns, as well as soil for container plants. Now that you’ve gotten your compost, if you’re curious about how to use it you should know that there are specific instructions for application included with your package of Emerald Coast bloom. Essentially, compost should be mixed with soil, or another planting medium, when planting for beds, containers, or any new plants. Compost can even be applied over existing plants. In August 2014, the FDEP issued ECUA a permit to construct and operate a Biosolids Composting Facility at the ECUA’s Central Water Reclamation Facility (CWRF). The idea was to use biosolids sludge produced by the CWRF in combination with yard trash collected by the Sanitation Department, allowing yard trash previously disposed of in landfill to be recycled through composting. This also allowed the CWRF to reduce the cost of natural gas, used to dry the biosolids sludge. The final product of compost is being sold to help offset the cost of the composting program. Construction on the ECUA’s Biosolids Composting Facility (BCF) began in April 2015 and by late October the facility was at a stage that allowed the first windrows to be formed using yard trash and biosolids sludge from the CWRF. The first batch of finished compost was produced in December 2015, but the BCF celebrated its official opening in spring 2016.
Today, the 20-acre BCF composts about 400 tons of biosolids (half of the ECUA’s biosolids) and 500 tons of yard waste per week. Together, that totals at approximately 15,000 of finished compost produced annually by the BCF, but plans are already underway to double its capacity. Before you put your yard waste out on the curb, remember you can help along the compositing process by joining the “Brown is the New Green, Leaf the Plastic Behind” initiative. All you have to do is choose to bag dead leaves and other organic yard waste in brown, paper bags instead of plastic ones, since paper will break down naturally in the composting process. You can also skip the bags and simply empty your leaves in a trash can for pickup. To applaud the ECUA’s composting efforts in our community, the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) announced the ECUA’s Biosolids Composting Facility as the winner of the 2016 SWANA Golf Excellence Award in the composting category. SWANA’s Excellence Awards program recognizes only the most outstanding solid waste
programs and facilities that advance the practice of environmentally and economically sound solid waste management, for those who show great commitment to utilizing effective technologies and processes in system design and operations, advancing worker and community healthy and safety, and implementing successful public education and outreach programs. These programs must demonstrate that they are fiscally and environmentally responsible through their compliance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations, as well. Emerald Coast bloom, also known as the “Most in Bio-Compost,” is certified under the US Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance program. This means the product is tested regularly to make sure it achieves Class AA quality and state standards that require it meet the following properties: high organic matter, macro and micronutrient, and ideal moisture contents, as well as balanced pH and soluble salts, low heavy metals. These tests also guarantee the compost remains free from pathogens and that it stays both stable and mature.
nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 55
56 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com
Election
PRIMARY QUESTIONS
“
The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn’t work and then they get elected and prove it.” - PJ O’Rourke With the U.S. House of Representatives primary election on Aug. 30 quickly approaching and a record number of candidates running for Rep. Jeff Miller’s vacated District 1 seat, Business Climate worked with the Panhandle Tiger Bay Club to bring you an issue-related and substantive Q&A with most of those seeking your vote. Six republicans and one democrat were present for the forum, which featured differences both nuanced and stark. By Josh Newby
nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 57
Election
Greg Evers (R)
Steven Specht (D)
Florida Senate since 2010
USAF veteran
Owns a small business
Lives in Pensacola with his wife
According to the Gallup agency, as of June 2016, Congress had a 16 percent approval rating, less than Nixon’s (24 percent) prior to his resignation. Why does Congress have such low approval and what will you do to reverse that? Nobody likes Congress but their Congressman. You’ve got to have a Congressman who listens to the people, somebody who’s accessible. Our nation is in dire straits. We’ve got to have someone willing to stand up and say that there’s something we got to do. We have got to have a strong military, term limits, and a balanced budget, just like we have in the state of Florida. When that is accomplished, we will have a country that continues to be the greatest nation in the world. How important is support for Israel in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism? When I was five years old, my grandmother told me that the United States will support Israel, because if they fall, we fall. That’s been instilled in me ever since. Israel is very talented at going in and taking care of the issues over there. If we support Israel, we won’t have a problem. Should we drill offshore? Protect the military mission, work for energy independence, and safely drill on federal lands. There’s no need to drill in the Gulf when we can drill in Blackwater Forest.
Do you support another round of BRAC? For the first three years, I would not support BRAC. I would look at and establish what the criteria was. As long as it protects the military bases in District 1, I would support cutting wasteful spending. What do you see as the future mission of the US military? Number one, keep us safe and keep ISIS out. We have been invaded on our soil. We don’t need to be the world’s innkeepers. We do need to stamp out oppression throughout the world and protect our borders. The CBO estimates that $1,000 of cuts need to be made to each American to stabilize the debt. How do you propose to stabilize the debt? We need to put America back into productivity. Bring the manufacturing back from overseas. Your economy will grow and you will not have to raise taxes. You also have to start with a zerobased budget. There were no giveaways. You started with a blank piece of paper and tracked where every dollar went for the state of Florida. If you abolish the IRS, how do you plan to finance the government? Abolish the IRS, set up an auditing system within the Treasury Department with about one tenth the amount of people.
Rebekah JohansenBydlak (R) 9th Generation Escambian Leader in Coalition to Reduce Spending
According to the Gallup agency, as of June 2016, Congress had a 16 percent approval rating, less than Nixon’s (24 percent) prior to his resignation. Why does Congress have such low approval and what will you do to reverse that? I think the first thing is Congress needs to reassert its Constitutional duties. When we go to war, we give the President carte blanche to go to war, but those duties are Congress’s, and that’s just an example. We need to recapture all of our responsibilities. How important is support for Israel in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism? It was said that Israel has a right to defend itself. Every nation has that right. We give them $3 billion annually of American tax dollars. I think we deserve more for that money. Now, Israel took land from Jordan and Egypt in 1967 and that is the land that the Palestinians are currently living in. They live in the world’s largest military blockade. We have had opportunities for a two-state solution, but we’ve got to put a little more check on the money we’re sending them. Should we drill offshore? Energy independence is a huge national security issue. The danger of modern nuclear reactors is much less than they used to be. There’s a trillion dollar industry out there that doesn’t put our shores at risk.
According to the Gallup agency, as of June 2016, Congress had a 16 percent approval rating, less than Nixon’s (24 percent) prior to his resignation. Why does Congress have such low approval and what will you do to reverse that? There’s 19 trillion reasons why Congress is unpopular. There’s a lot of lax attitudes towards our responsibilities. We don’t even pass budgets anymore. The military can’t plan anymore because they don’t know where their money is coming from. Agencies can’t cut because that’s not incentivized. What I can do is reassert the Constitutional role of Congress. The President is not king; Congress has a role of a deliberative body. We need to take a look at the rules of the game, because they don’t favor the type of cuts we really need.
Do you support another round of BRAC? There are inefficiencies in the military, so I would support it. We’ve got to let the military make the decisions though. Let’s look at weapons of war instead of bases. What do you see as the future mission of the US military? The biggest takeaway from Iraq is we can’t go it alone. That being said, anytime we send our troops overseas, we need to consider three things: one, is there an identifiable national security threat; two, do we have a clear plan of action; three, do we have an endgame in mind? The CBO estimates that $1,000 of cuts need to be made to each American to stabilize the debt. How do you propose to stabilize the debt? I’ve got to reject the premise. The deficit has fallen from $1.5 trillion from just over $400 billion. Our economy is growing and we’re shirking the budget. I want to pay back the education system and the infrastructure. We should be willing to raise taxes on people who make over $100,000 a year. If you abolish the IRS, how do you plan to finance the government? I don’t plan on abolishing the IRS. It needs reform, but the Constitution provides for taxation. Even if you move to a fair tax, you still have to have an agency to collect it.
How important is support for Israel in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism? We have an increasingly dangerous world. For the past eight years, we’ve seen a President that doesn’t believe that and thinks he can lecture his way out of trouble. Israel is our greatest ally in the region, and we need to support them unequivocally. My first job as a member of Congress will be to take the powers outlined in Article 1 Section 8 that we have too often acquiesced to the President who thinks he’s king. We see the consequences when he acts unilaterally without a thought to the consequences. We also need to listen to our generals. We have to follow and fully fund our path to victory. Should we drill offshore? It’s hard to think about this without thinking
of the oil spill of 2010. It is a complicated issue, and it’s not as simple as yes or no. We should never say never, but I will say never to crony projects or regulations that strangle our business development or anything that endangers our military. Do you support another round of BRAC? They are the backbone of our district and I would defend them to the best of my ability. We’ve got politicians who don’t care making these decisions, and there are real-world consequences to thinking they know better than our military men and women. What do you see as the future mission of the US military? The job of the military is pretty straightforward: to defend the people. My first job as a member of Congress is to do that. We can’t do that without a clearly defined endgame and without involving Congress. The CBO estimates that $1,000 of cuts need to be made to each American to stabilize the debt. How do you propose to stabilize the debt? When you come off of all-time highs, of course the deficit is going to fall. When you look at the CBO report, it becomes clear that you cannot tax your way out of this. I am not for taxing hardworking Americans. The Government Accountability Office releases a report every year that shows how billions of cuts can be made. If you abolish the IRS, how do you plan to finance the government? You certainly have to have an agency, but not an agency with an arsenal of weapons to destroy people’s lives.
James Zumwalt (R) Served two tours in Iraq Awarded Bronze Star medal According to the Gallup agency, as of June 2016, Congress had a 16 percent approval rating, less than Nixon’s (24 percent) prior to his resignation. Why does Congress have such low approval and what will you do to reverse that? The situation in the Middle East is extremely complex. You hear people saying, “We need to take the fight to ISIS.” Well we need people who know how to get that done. The key to defeating ISIS is finding the allies on the ground—Iraqi Kurds. They’re the only democratically minded folks there. They provided support to the Sunnis and the Shiites, and they’re the only ones willing to take the fight ISIS It’s very important that we understand who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. Should we drill offshore? No, absolutely not. Right now, there’s a military mission line that divides the Gulf north-south. Forty percent of our local GDP is military-related. If you get rid of that military mission line, and thus provide rigs to drill offline, we’re going to start demoting
one of the most fundamental aspects of our local economy. It also has an impact on our tourism industry. You don’t want rigs camped out on our shore. Do you support another round of BRAC? We have very vital missions to our national defense infrastructure here. We need to address and protect these missions in Northwest Florida. When BRACs happen, they actually end up costing the tax payer more money. So what you do as a Congressman in Northwest Florida, you make your entire defense infrastructure BRAC-proof. You do that providing a good service of national defense that is valuable. What do you see as the future mission of the US military? Provide for the common defense and appropriate funds. If we were doing that, we wouldn’t have ISIS in our backyard and we wouldn’t be so in debt. The CBO estimates that $1,000 of cuts need to be made to each American to
stabilize the debt. How do you propose to stabilize the debt? Saying that, “Hey, we only owe an additional $400 billion this year” is not a measure of success. We should just look at what our goal is: provide for defense and pass appropriations. If we have trillions of dollars in non-discretionary funds coming through each year, that’s a lack of leadership and scrutiny. Hold their feet to the fire. Let’s pass these appropriations bills. If you want specifics, Planned Parenthood, the EPA, the Department of Education, the Bureau of Land Management doesn’t need a SWAT team, do away with the IRS because they’ve been targeting conservatives, fire corrupt VA bureaucrats. If you abolish the IRS, how do you plan to finance the government? You aim for the stars, you’ll hit the moon. I’m a big fan of the fair and flat tax. Those plans should be discussed at least on the House floor.
Brian Frazier (R) 25 year military veteran M.S. and M.B.A. According to the Gallup agency, as of June 2016, Congress had a 16 percent approval rating, less than Nixon’s (24 percent) prior to his resignation. Why does Congress have such low approval and what will you do to reverse that? We need to look in the mirror and realize that if we’re getting our own pork, so does everyone else. That’s how we wind up with a $19 trillion debt. We continue to elect unqualified people to Washington DC. Everyone wants term limits, yet we can’t get them. Elect somebody who will actually do what they say they’ll do, and if they don’t, bring them home. How important is support for Israel in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism? There won’t be a two-state solution. When I was in DC, we met with the ambassador, and he said that Palestine wants part of their country, and they’re not going to give it up. So whose side are we on? We don’t need to choose Hammas or the Muslim Brotherhood. We’ve got a deep problem of infiltration within our own government and our own society. We need to support Israel because they’re our only friend in the region.
Should we drill offshore? I will support drilling in the Gulf, but not infringing on our military mission. We can drill safely out in the Gulf. Florida can decide whether it wants drilling in its state waters or not. There’s always risk, whether it’s oil or nuclear, but there’s also a lot of jobs in it. Do you support another round of BRAC? I would have to see the process. If it’s anything like last time, which was purely political, then I would not support. Let the generals and admirals decide. The right people have to make the decisions, and it’s not the people sitting in Congress. What do you see as the future mission of the US military? We have to defend our own country first, and right now there’s no one capable of defeating our country. We can’t get into these protracted conflicts or do nationbuilding. When our military is called into action, they need to kill people and break all their stuff.
The CBO estimates that $1,000 of cuts need to be made to each American to stabilize the debt. How do you propose to stabilize the debt? Simple answer is, have a Constitutional government. If the federal government did what was enumerated, we wouldn’t have a debt. We’d have a surplus. Let’s not raise taxes, but I am for a fair or flat tax. No exemptions for anything. We have very simple tax brackets, but 70,000 pages of exemptions. So to answer the question, cut the IRS, the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, and repeal the Affordable Care Act. Everything should be discretionary, including unemployment and Social Security and Medicare. If you abolish the IRS, how do you plan to finance the government? I would abolish the IRS. It’s not the solution; it’s the problem. We can use the Department of Treasury to collect the funds.
nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 59
Election
Cris Dosev (R)
Mark Wichern (R)
Co-Founder, Wounded Heroes Foundation
Teacher
Captain, USMC According to the Gallup agency, as of June 2016, Congress had a 16 percent approval rating, less than Nixon’s (24 percent) prior to his resignation. Why does Congress have such low approval and what will you do to reverse that? On the one hand, people disapprove of Congress, but people actually overwhelmingly support their Congressman. So what’s the disconnect? We like the person but not the whole body. Well, the system is made this way by our Founding Fathers. The House is supposed to represent the passion of the people, and the Senate is supposed to temper that passion, but that’s not what’s happening. As a result of the Seventeenth Amendment, you have popular vote of the Senate, so there are two bodies preoccupied with passion. So if it was up to me, I would repeal the Seventeenth Amendment. Should we drill offshore? I’ve got a district mission line. There’s no need to drill out there. We’ve got plenty of oil and gas reserves. That beach provides countless jobs here in our community, but it also is a gem for the rest of the country. They don’t come here to see oilrigs off the coast. As a nation, we should recognize those places that value and beauty. Let’s look at where to put some nuclear power plants if there’s a real energy concern. Do you support another round of BRAC? If it were to prohibit pork barrel projects from Northeastern liberals, yeah I’d be for it, but I would not be for closing down any of our local bases. What do you see as the future mission of the US military? The role is the military is national defense and protecting our national interests. We’re not afraid of Canada or Mexico. So national defense sort of falls down the ladder of priority. National interests, on the other hand, well, we don’t know what those
60 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com
interests are. One minute we draw red lines, the next minute we say they’re not that red. We need consistency. Let’s define our national interests, one of which is the open communication of commerce. The CBO estimates that $1,000 of cuts need to be made to each American to stabilize the debt. How do you propose to stabilize the debt? Vote for a businessman named Donald Trump and have him take a look at this thing. He knows what he’s doing. We have a problem with debt and we’ve got about five or six years to get our fiscal house in order. After that, if you don’t send people to Washington with business experience to bring in these spending problems, we’re all going to be speaking Greek. I’d like to do a general sequestration aimed at 100 percent of the budget except the military. If you abolish the IRS, how do you plan to finance the government? I don’t see abolishing the IRS as a viable option at this moment. The country has much greater concerns. The IRS is a tax-collecting agency, though it needs to be reined in and needs to fear the Congress and the people.
Married for 17 years According to the Gallup agency, as of June 2016, Congress had a 16 percent approval rating, less than Nixon’s (24 percent) prior to his resignation. Why does Congress have such low approval and what will you do to reverse that? Sixteen percent is not the ultimate low; it was at its lowest in 2004. Does anyone really understand how leadership is chosen in Washington? The fact of the matter is, whoever raises the most money for their party becomes the majority leader. When our Congressmen go in there, they’re not longer accountable to us; they’re accountable to their parties. We need to call out the money system. These politicians are going across the street from Capitol Hill 70 percent of the time to fundraise. They’re not loyal to us; they’re trying to move up in leadership. I want to get in there and actually work for the people of District 1. I want to reinvest that money in the community. How important is support for Israel in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism? I think we have an issue with Israel. Do you realize we do not have a treaty with Israel today? We need to address that if we’re going to continue giving them money. One of the ways you find out what’s really going on, you follow the money. My concerns are, let’s see what’s really going on. Numbers don’t lie; people do. Should we drill offshore? One of the things we’re looking at is these are foreign companies who have no allegiance to us whatsoever. If we’re drilling, we need to have American companies doing it. Also, we need a proven method of cleaning it up when there’s a spill. I’d also like to see where the federal government has the authority in the Constitution to make these decisions. Finally, the free market needs to solve the energy crisis. It needs to be able to stand on its own and see what happens. The states need to be looking at this.
Do you support another round of BRAC? We currently have 700 bases in 70 nations around the country. How in the world can we afford this? Let’s close the unnecessary ones overseas and open up ones in the states. Let’s open up another hundred Eglins along the Southern border and inflict some fear in the hearts of those crossing our borders. We need to stop the nation building. We have the technology to get anywhere in the world without 700 bases. What do you see as the future mission of the US military? We should not be worldwide policemen. We are going to soon be $21 trillion. We need to reevaluate of a lot of stuff. I want a strong military, absolutely, but we need to go back to a Constitutional government. The CBO estimates that $1,000 of cuts need to be made to each American to stabilize the debt. How do you propose to stabilize the debt? I’d like to start by not giving illegal immigrants benefits. I’d also like to cut the military industrial complex, but not our defense. But our big problem is really the Federal Reserve. It prints money and loans it to us at interest. It’s a private bank. We need to look at our Constitution and there’s already a budget built into it. If we did that, we would eliminate 80 percent of the government overhead. If you abolish the IRS, how do you plan to finance the government? We used to use tariffs and user fees to fund the government. The tax was originally set up to fund the national defense. Let’s go back to tariffs and user fees. Taxes don’t fund the U.S. government. Inflation funds the government.
SOLUTIONS TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS THRIVE
TRADITIONAL ACCOUNTING CORPORATE ADVISORY SERVICES TECHNOLOGY & RISK SOLUTIONS
We often begin relationships with traditional tax or audit services, but clients quickly realize we can offer so much more. From technology solutions and wealth management to transaction advisory services and executive recruiting, it’s time to take a closer look at Warren Averett and all we have to offer. Let’s Thrive Together.
HR SOLUTIONS PERSONAL SERVICES FINANCE TEAM SUPPORT
Florida | Alabama | Georgia
| www.warrenaverett.com
nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 61
62 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com
Around the Region
Fortis Institute-Pensacola dean of nursing appointed regional dean of nursing for the southeastern region Lisa Thornton Carwie, Ph.D., M.S.N., B.S.N, A.D.N., Fortis Institute in Pensacola Dean of Nursing, has been appointed Regional Dean of Nursing for the Southeastern Region. As Regional Dean of Nursing, Dr. Carwie will supervise Fortis’ Florida nursing programs in Pensacola, Cutler Bay, Largo, Orange Park and Port St. Lucie, along with programs in Montgomery, Ala., and Columbia, S.C. Dr. Carwie will continue to oversee and direct the nursing program at Fortis InstitutePensacola as its dean; however, day-to-day leadership responsibilities will fall to the campus’ Director of Nursing. Dr. Carwie has spent 20 years in nursing education as an instructor at the University of Mobile and Fortis Institute, including the last six years as Dean of Nursing for the Pensacola campus. She also brings 17 years of clinical nursing experience to the job as an obstetrics, gynecology and radiology nurse at Mobile Infirmary Medical Center.
UWF hosts STEM-focused Discovery Spot camps for middle- and high-school students This summer, the University of West Florida is giving middle- and high-school students opportunities for hands-on, STEM-related learning experiences at a series of Discovery Spot camps. STEM education encompasses science, technology, engineering and math. At the weeklong Discovery Spot camps, offered in June and July, UWF professors engage students with interactive projects related to 3-D printing, robotics, game design, mobile app design and holography. According to Dr. Lakshmi Prayaga, faculty project leader for Discovery Spot and associate professor of information engineering technology and networking and communications, “students learn not only what these technologies are and how they work, but create their own projects in each type of tech and are encouraged to use these newfound skills to add new and exciting additions to the project that they dream up.” Examples of student-designed projects are 3-D printed Monopoly game pieces, spacecrafts designed by 10-year-olds using principles of aerodynamics, rockets from StarTrek models and a car racingthemed video game. For the Monopoly pieces, students recreate pieces of the famous game, including a top hat, battle ship, houses and hotels, using knowledge from geometry and computer-aided design skills they learn in the camp. They print them using a 3-D printer and get to take them home. For the racing game, students create a computer-based game, complete with scenery, characters and behaviors. In these activities they learn about incorporating 3-D models, adding lights, textures and other components to create scenes, and coding behaviors using conditional logic, Prayaga said. Discovery Spot camps are open to students who will enter 5th-11th grades in 2016. To date, approximately 120 students are registered to attend this summer, including some from as far away as Georgia and South Florida. The three remaining sessions offered this summer are during the weeks of July 11, July 18 and July 25, from 9 am to 3 pm CDT daily. This year’s camp rate is on par with other camps at $185 for one week.
Florida SBDC at UWF hosts Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program business plan competition The Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of West Florida recently hosted a business plan competition to conclude its inaugural Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program, an entrepreneurial training initiative for veterans in the state of Florida seeking to start their own businesses. The program – piloted by UWF, in conjunction with the FSBDC Network and Military Veterans Resource Center – opened in March to more than 80 veterans. The first phase included online training, and the second involved three weekends of direct business training, mentoring and an optional business plan competition on the final day.
nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 63
Art • EntErtAinmEnt • LifEstyLE
magazine
pensacolamagazine.com